Christian Cawley

How To

How to Set up a Matter Smart Plug

One of the best ways to get started with smart home tech is to employ a smart plug. These internet-connected devices have a simple task – to switch on and off, thereby powering up or powering off any connected device. And just as smart plugs have been the ideal intro to smart home tech in the past, they’re also perfect to help you get to grips with Matter.

Friday, August 16, 2024

Explainer

What are the major differences between Matter 1.3 and 1.2?

Matter aims to bring improved interoperability and security into the smart home space. One way this is achieved is through a rigid release schedule. The Matter 1.3 specification was released in Spring 2024. It introduced a number of significant improvements, but what are the key differences between Matter 1.2 and 1.3?

Friday, August 2, 2024

Explainer

Can a Kitchen Fridge Be Connected to Matter?

Boasting temperature control, inventory management, and even diet control, the smart fridge can only be enhanced by the emergence of Matter. The new smart home standard is slowly spreading into the kitchen, with connected devices included in Matter 1.3. But can current smart fridges connect to Matter?

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Explainer

What do Matter smart switches do?

On the face of things, Matter-compatible smart switches just do what other smart home light switches do. But there is more to switching lights off and on remotely using Matter.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Kitchen Equipment

If you’re building your Matter smart home, one of the key areas that you’ve probably identified is the kitchen. But is Matter-compatible kitchenware available? As of mid-2024, the list of compatible hardware is short, but the kitchen is a key opportunity for Matter.

Monday, July 15, 2024

Explainer

Can Matter Work With Your Smart Television?

Smart homes technology has been surprisingly slow to build integrations with TVs. Aside from support for smart assistants, there is little to shout about. It’s hardly smart, is it? But with increased support for Matter, that might be about to change.

Monday, July 1, 2024

Review

IKEA DIRIGERA Review: A Matter Bridge

IKEA has spent the last decade flogging its TRADFRI gateway. But IKEA is a member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, and Matter is the CSA’s pet project. Then Matter 1.3 happened, and suddenly IKEA’s new smart home looked a lot more interesting. Could the DIRIGERA bridge Matter in your home?

Monday, June 24, 2024

News

New Home Assistant Update Includes Matter 1.3 and AI Automation

A collection of new features have been unveiled in Home Assistant 2024.6, which boasts various improvements and the inclusion of Matter 1.3. The Spring 2024 revision of Matter adds various smart home interoperability enhancements, which are now supported in the new Home Assistant release.

Friday, June 14, 2024

Thread

Why Your MacBook Has a Hidden Thread Radio

FCC reports of current and upcoming Apple devices reveal that many of them have a hidden feature. But why do new iPhones and MacBooks have a Thread radio?

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Explainer

How to Tell Which Version of Matter You’re Using

Knowing which version of Matter your hardware is running can help you to choose the right devices. It will also determine which features your smart home kit can control via a smart hub app, and which ones are restricted to the device’s native app. But there is a problem. You can’t definitively find out which version of Matter you’re using.

Monday, June 10, 2024

Explainer

How Smart Home Devices Will Change With The Matter Standard

The chances are, your smart home isn’t as smart as you would like it to be.  Incompatibility, a lack of interoperability, and perhaps a simple tiff between brands and ecosystems are taking their toll. Multiple apps, dependence on specific hubs, and a collision of ecosystems in an attempt to make things simply work.

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Explainer

Matter vs Z-Wave: What's the Difference?

Arguably the biggest problem with smart homes is the lack of compatibility between devices and hubs. Even where compatibility is used as a selling point, problems can occur down the line. Two possible solutions are the Matter protocol and the Z-Wave mesh networking system. But both are slightly different.

Monday, May 27, 2024

News

Tado Does Matter: New X Range Heats Up Smart Homes

German smart heating manufacturer Tado has launched Tado X, a collection of Matter-compatible devices in the European Union. Aiming to make smart heating more accessible, the Tado X devices are Matter and Thread compatible.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Explainer

What Is Zigbee? Is Matter Better?

Smart homes cannot work if the smart devices cannot communicate. Having Wi-Fi or Bluetooth support isn’t enough – devices need a way to message each other, a shared language, or protocol. Two prominent protocols are Zigbee and Matter. Current smart home devices and hubs support both protocols, but eventually one of them will be dropped. So which one will it be?

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Industry News

Matter Unlocks Google Home APIs

Google Home has been revived, and undergone a transformation. While the name was largely retired in favor of Google Nest, it has been re-envisioned as a new element in smart home development.

Monday, May 20, 2024

Industry News

Matter 1.3 Levels Up Your Smart Home with EVs, Water Management, and More

Matter 1.3 was released by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) on May 8, 2024. It adds new device type support for kitchen appliances, EV chargers, and more.  It also introduces enhanced features for existing hardware. However, there is one expected device type for which support has not yet been introduced.

Monday, May 13, 2024

Explainer

Can IKEA Become a Serious Smart-Home Player? An Analysis of Their Matter-Compatible Products

Matter is becoming the most significant smart home standard. But take a trip to IKEA, and things are a little different. Not only does the Swedish retailer have a wide selection of smart lamps and LEDs, it also has a hub. Can the Matter-compatible Dirigera hub and the rest of the Tradfri line turn IKEA into a player in the smart home?

Friday, May 10, 2024

Explainer

What is Matter Casting and Which Devices Support It?

You’ve probably used Chromecast or AirPlay, or any of the other wireless video casting systems. They’re useful for sharing media on your mobile device to a TV, whether video or photos. Smart home protocol Matter has its own casting technology, Matter Casting.

Thursday, May 2, 2024

News

Home Assistant Joins The Open Home Foundation

Home Assistant has announced that it is undergoing a significant shift in its management structure. It will now be overseen by a new non-profit organization, the Open Home Foundation. How will this shift affect Home Assistant's future?

Monday, April 22, 2024

Explainer

Matter 1.3 is Coming Out Spring 2024. Here's What to Expect

Spring 2024 is the expected timeframe for the release of Matter 1.3. This revision to the standard is likely to build upon the previous version, adding further interoperability, support for new device categories, and security enhancements.

Thursday, April 18, 2024